CC11 Committee Meeting

The Legislative Committee on Bill C-11 met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street, the Chair, Glenn Thibeault, presiding.

Glenn Thibault announced his appointment as Chair of the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order 113(2).

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

Mike Lake moved, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) Members are present, including one (1) Member from the government and one (1) Member of the opposition.

Debate arose thereon.

Geoff Regan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and one (1) Member of the opposition” with the words “one (1) Member from each of the opposition parties”.

The question was put on the amendment of Geoff Regan and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 11.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk be authorized to distribute to the Members of the Committee any documents, including motions, and that they be distributed to the Committee Members in both official languages. The Clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That the Committee authorize the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representative per organization, and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

Mike Lake moved, — That each Committee Member in attendance shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member attend any in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from a House officer attending in camera meetings.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcriptions be kept with thw Clerk for later consultation by Members of the Committee or Members of Parliament who attended the specific meeting.

Mike Lake moved, — That forty-eight (48) hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk and distributed to Members in both official languages. Motions that are received by 5:00 p.m. shall be distributed to Members the same day.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Mike Lake moved, — That the Committee adopt the following weekly schedule starting Monday, February 27, 2012:

Monday: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Debate arose thereon.

Charlie Angus moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.” and “Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.” with the words “Tuesday and Thursday: 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.”.

The question was put on the amendment of Charlie Angus and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 7.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That each meeting be divided into two (2) separate one-and-a-half-hour panels with no more than three (3) witnesses each.

Mike Lake moved, — That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses there shall be allocated five (5) minutes for the first round of questioning, and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning. The order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Conservative, NDP; Conservative, Liberal, and questioning during the second round shall alternate between the government members and opposition members in the following fashion: Conservative, NDP; Conservative, NDP; Conservative, NDP; Conservative, Conservative, based on the principle that each Committee Member shall have a full opportunity to question the witnesses. If time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two, at the discretion of the Chair.

Debate arose thereon.

Charlie Angus moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the last word “Conservative” with the word “Liberal”.

The question was put on the amendment of Charlie Angus and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 7.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That the Evidence and documentation received by the Legislative Committee on Bill C-32, An Act to amend the Copyright Act, during the third session of the 40th Parliament, be taken into consideration by this Committee.

Mike Lake moved, — That witnesses who appeared before or made submissions to the Legislative Committee on Bill C-32 during the third session of the 40th Parliament may provide, in written form to the Committee, an addendum to their original submission.

Geoff Regan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “submissions” the following: “and that all briefs and amendments submitted during the committee study of Bill C-32 be taken into consideration.”.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Pierre Dionne Labelle moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “submissions” the following: “and that they can appear again before the Committee”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Pierre Dionne Labelle and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Pierre Nantel, Geoff Regan — 5; NAYS: Scott Armstrong, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Dean Del Mastro, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore — 7.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

Mike Lake moved, — That the preliminary list of witnesses be determined by a vote of the Committee at a committee business meeting to be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Mike Lake moved, — That the Committee begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill no later than Wednesday, March 14, 2012; that debate be limited to a maximum of five (5) minutes per party, per clause, and five (5) minutes per party per amendment; and that if clause-by-clause consideration is not completed by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2012, the Chair shall interrupt debate and put the question on all remaining clauses and amendments, as well as all other questions necessary to dispose of this stage of the bill forthwith and successively without further debate and shall report the bill back to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Debate arose thereon.

Geoff Regan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “per party” with the words “per Committee Member”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Geoff Regan and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dean Del Mastro, Geoff Regan — 2; NAYS: Scott Armstrong, Tyrone Benskin, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Andrew Cash, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore, Pierre Nantel — 10.

Pierre Dionne Labelle moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “completed by 9:00 a.m.” with the words “completed, that it may go beyond 9:00 a.m.”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Pierre Dionne Labelle and it was negatived.

Charlie Angus moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “five (5) minutes” with the words “fifteen (15) minutes”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Charlie Angus and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Pierre Nantel, Geoff Regan — 5; NAYS: Scott Armstrong, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Dean Del Mastro, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore — 7.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

Mike Lake moved, — That the meeting be extended beyond 5:30 p.m.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Scott Armstrong, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Dean Del Mastro, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore, Geoff Regan — 8; NAYS: Tyrone Benskin, Andrew Cash, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Pierre Nantel — 4.

At 5:39 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:43 p.m., the sitting resumed.

On motion of Mike Lake, it was agreed, — That amendments to Bill C-11 be submitted to the Clerk twenty-four (24) hours prior to clause-by-clause consideration and distributed to Members in both official languages.

On motion of Geoff Regan, it was agreed, — That all meetings of the Committee be televised if possible.

Geoff Regan moved, — That all meetings of the Committee be held in public.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Pierre Nantel, Geoff Regan — 5; NAYS: Scott Armstrong, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Dean Del Mastro, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore — 7.

Mike Lake moved, — That all meetings in which the Committee hears from witnesses be held in public.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Scott Armstrong, Tyrone Benskin, Peter Braid, Paul Calandra, Dean Del Mastro, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Mike Lake, Phil McColeman, Rob Moore, Pierre Nantel, Geoff Regan — 12; NAYS: — 0.

It was agreed, — That each party's preliminary list of witnesses be sent to the Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, and that it be distributed to the Members of the Committee.

At 6:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.